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Award-winning author to teach tolerance through picture books

Tour dates are included in this release. If you are interested in an interview with Ed Vere or would like a reporter or photographer to attend one of the events please contact: Lindsay.clydesdale@scottishbooktrust.com or 0131 524 0175.

Ed will be speaking to children about tolerance through the power of picture books. The event will feature wonderful interactive storytelling and draw-along activities. The tour is sponsored by Scottish Friendly and run by Scottish Book Trust.

Ed Vere’s books include the renowned Max series, featuring the fearless kitten Max, Banana and Bedtime for Monsters. The first book in this series, Max the Brave, was a New York Times bestseller and was listed in the Sunday Times ‘100 Modern Children’s Classics’. In 2009, Ed’s book Mr Big was selected for the Booktrust’s first Booktime programme and 750,000 copies were sent to schools across the UK. Ed’s books encourage readers to think about the themes of friendship, tolerance and sharing.

Ed’s latest book, Grumpy Frog, features a frog who is not grumpy at all. He loves hopping and winning, and he really loves green, not pink. But when – horror of horrors – a pink rabbit hops into view, can grumpy frog learn to compromise, develop friendships and apologise for his terrible tantrums?

Commenting on the tour, Ed said:

I’m thrilled to be on the road for an exciting week of reading and drawing with children in schools around Scotland.

We are very excited and look forward to having Ed join us on tour for the first time. Ed is certain to deliver powerful and thought-provoking ideas to pupils, as well as inspiring them with his amazing illustrations.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, added:

We are really looking forward to visiting schools with Ed Vere and the Scottish Friendly tour. This is a wonderful opportunity for pupils to meet an author and illustrator whose stories are excellent examples of friendship and tolerance.

It’s also a great chance for the pupils to learn how to draw Ed’s well-known characters, and create their own stories.